Rules and Procedures
General Information
Who makes the rules?
The
ACBL establishes the rules and procedures for most duplicate
bridge played in North America. There is an ongoing review process by which
these rules and procedures are periodically revised and updated.
Do I have to know all the rules to start playing duplicate?
The short answer is no. You need to know the
basic background rules of bridge , and that you should call the director
as soon as anything strange happens (for instance, if your partner opens one
heart and then your opponent tries to bid one diamond, you should call the
director).
You also need to know a little bit about something called the alert procedure .
Familiarity with the rules can help
players feel more comfortable and confident about playing bridge,
and especially about alerts and director calls.
Why are there so many rules and procedures?
In duplicate, comparisons are made among results achieved by players holding
the same cards and playing bridge. When something goes wrong (the cards get
mixed up, or someone makes a mistake such as bidding or leading out of
turn or revoking), those comparisons become unfair because the basic
assumptions about the way the game works are no longer in effect.
The primary purpose of the rules and procedures is to make the game
as equitable as possible by attempting to prevent such irregularites and to
make appropriate adjustments in the event that an irregularity has taken
place.
What if the rule doesn't seem fair in a particular situation?
When the adjustment from the rules seems insufficient (as compensation
to non-offenders), further redress is possible at the discretion of the
director; when the adjustment seems too harsh (as penalty to offenders),
however, it stands.
What is active ethics?
The principle of active ethics embodies the intent of the rules and
procedures. This principle encourages players to participate fully in
the effort to maintain equity.
Full disclosure
Winning is more meaningful when your
opponents had all of the information to which they were entitled.
Players who practice active ethics give their
opponents full disclosure of partnership agreements whenever appropriate
(for example, give complete answers to requests for information (when
asked to explain your partner's 2NT response to your 1D opening, include
not only the point range, but also whether your partner's call denies a
4-card major--don't wait for the opponent to ask exactly the right
question to give that information)).
Partnership agreements
Active ethics and common sense dictate that in order to play a
convention, you should fully discuss it with your partner so that you know
when it applies in order to avoid the awkward situation of not knowing
what your partner's bid means. You may end up with a good result because
you misinterpreted your partner's bid, but it is so much more
rewarding to earn your good results.
When you have a regular partnership, you may know more about your partner's
bids than your opponents do; they may ask about your style, and then the
principle of full disclosure applies. In addition, you should be careful
that any tendencies that have developed into understandings (such as
a tendency to open a four-card major in third or fourth seat) are marked
on your card so that your opponents have access to all the information that
you have--you are not required to adhere rigidly to the system marked on your
card, but once you form habits that deviate from it, you should change the
way your card is marked (so it's not unethical to open a 4-card major if
your card says you never do, unless you have done so enough in the past that
your partner will not be surprised to discover you do not have five).
Slow play
Long waits between rounds are usually frustrating. Actively ethical players
will make an effort to catch up whenever they are behind, even when they
start a round late through no fault of their own.
General courtesy
Making the game more enjoyable for everyone includes treating your opponents
with respect. Active ethics encourages players to greet their
opponents at the start of the round and wish them good luck at the end
of the round, to compliment their opponents' bidding and play as
appropriate, and to avoid doing or saying anything that is likely to
upset or intimidate their opponents.
Back to U-M Bridge Club Home Page
Last modified: May 5, 1998
clahey@umich.edu